Car-coupljng



(No Modei) T. G. ASHPORD.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 369,884. Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

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THOMAS GRESHAM ASHFORD, OF COURTNEY, TEXAS.

CAR=COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,384, datedSeptember 6, 1887.

Application filed May 524, 1887. Serial No. 239,944. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS GRESHAM Asu- FORD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Courtney, in the county of Grimes and State ofTexas, have invented new and useful Ira provements in Car Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consistsin certain novel features,hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention,Figure l is a perspective view of my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is abottom plan view showing two couplings connected. Fig. 3 is a detailview showing the buffer, and Fig. & is a detail sectional view taken onthe line a: :0 of Fi 2.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the upper portion ofthe car-truck, and B the front crossbar of the same, which serves as aplatform. To one side of the cen ter this platform is provided with alongi tudinal slot, Z), in which is pivoted a lever, C. This lever 0extends above the platform a suitable distance for the proper operationof the same, and it also extends a short distance below the same.

D designates the catches, which are pivoted to the rear cross-bar, 15,01the truck, as shown. These catches project forward of the platform orframe of the car, and are provided on one side at and near their forwardends with the shoulders or hook-shaped lugs F F. Each of the catches I)is provided with two of the shoulders F F, and the rear one is at leastthree times as large as the forward one, as shown, being so constructedas to couple to cars of different heights, and also to allow forvertical motion of the cars and to equalize draft.

H designates a coiled spring having one end secured to one of thelongitudinal bars of the truck. and its other end secured to the side ofthe catch from which the shoulders F project, thereby serving to holdthe catch against the catch coupled thereto.

I is a stop arranged to one side of the catch to prevent the spring Hdrawing it too near the side of the car. These stops I are formed from astrip of sheet metal, 6, having one end secured to the top of one of thelongitudinal bars of the truclu and then passed over the catch, and thendownward vertically in the path of the catch. This downwardly-turnedportion forms the stop I, and from the lower extremity thereof the endof the strip is ex tended to the adjacent longitudinal bar of the truckand secured to the under sideof the same, as shown in Fig. i.

A spring-buffer, J, is secured in the upper part of the truck, and isnormally projected from the platform by a spring, h, as shown. On thefront of the platform, to one side of the buffer, is provided aprojection, K, which is on the opposite side of the buffer from thelever O. The projection is arranged a suiiicient distance to the side ofthe buffer to allow proper side play or motion of cars without allowingthe cars to become uncoupled. The projection extends forward of theplatform a sufficient distance to touch the forward end of the oppositeplatform when the cars are jammed as far as will be permitted by thebuffers. This projection is shown in the drawings as being formedseparately from the platform and secured thereto; but it will be readilyunderstood that it may be formed integrally with the platform, and thatit maybe of any de sired shape.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. \Nhcn two carscome together, the catches engage and the coupling is made. When it isdesired to uncouple the cars, the catches are disengaged by operatingone of the lovers 0, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. In a car-coupling, the platform having a spring buffer and aprojection, K, adjacent to and to one side of the buffer, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination of the platform, the catch pivotally secured belowthe same and having a series'of coupling-shoulders on one side, thespring H, and the stop 1, arranged to act upon the side of the catchfrom which the coupling-shoulders project, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS GRESHAM ASHFORD.

Witnesses:

W. J. CALLAWAY, J. M. GALLAWAY.

